OTHER AMERICAN PLANTS. 131 



The Gtpsocaixis. 



The hardiest of the " Heaths," as the plant is 

 always found in catalogues as Erica herbacea. It is 

 a native of Central Europe, but with us has proved 

 hardy in all exposures, the only care taken being to 

 cover the plant with pine-needles in winter ; as in 

 our experience, while no degree of cold injured the 

 plant, the flower-buds were killed when the mercury 

 fell below zero. The species to which we specially 

 refer is G. carnea. This little plant is low-growing, 

 like the Heather ; and, like it, is suited for the bor- 

 ders of Rhododendron-beds. It blooms in the early 

 days of spi'ing, opening its flowers with the crocuses 

 in April, and giving to the bees the first promise of 

 summer. 



The flowers are pale red or whitish, and com- 

 pletely cover the plant. By growing it in every 

 position, from very sunny to very shady, a succes- 

 sion of bloom may be obtained for weeks. We 

 regard this as one of the most valuable of spring 

 flowers. 



Figured in Bot. Mag. t. 11 ; Lodd. Cab. t. 1452. 



The other species of Gypsocallis are not hardy in 

 New England, although they are often grown as 

 greenhouse plants. 



The Cassiope. 



C. hypnoides is a rarely beautiful plant, with moss- 

 like foliage and lovely red and white flowers. It is 



